Whats the value of a 74-75 norton commando barn find

Status
Not open for further replies.
rvich said:
On a bike from the factory, frame tag, engine and gearbox numbers all matched. So assume it is the original frame and run the engine number. If it comes back clean, buy a frame tag, put the engine number on it and move on. There is only so much you can do.
Click to expand...

I mentioned this in my earlier reply to your question, what is not to understand? I also suggest that you take a piece of abrasive paper, 220 should be fine and scrub the right side of the steering head; if there is a number there it won't take long to uncover it. Rise to the challenge, it is likely to be the easiest one the Norton throws at you...
 
htown16 said:
I said 8 to 10K to restore to original not hack up into some useless pile of junk with bastardized jap parts.
Click to expand...
Like this?
Whats the value of a 74-75 norton commando barn find


I think I spend $4,250 including the $1,000 donor chopper.

All it would have needed would have been a right sidecover, and stock handlebars (same cost as clubman bars, so no additional cost), and a new pair of Amal premiers & airbox, well under $1,000.

I don't know why some people seem to insist that it takes $10K to restore a bike if you do the labor yourself. PS this bike has had ZERO issues, runs as well as ANY comparable Commando 750, and should continue to do so for many more years, as long as it is serviced and maintained per the manufacturer's schedule.
 
grandpaul said:
Like this?
Whats the value of a 74-75 norton commando barn find


I think I spend $4,250 including the $1,000 donor chopper.

All it would have needed would have been a right sidecover, and stock handlebars (same cost as clubman bars, so no additional cost), and a new pair of Amal premiers & airbox, well under $1,000.

I don't know why some people seem to insist that it takes $10K to restore a bike if you do the labor yourself. PS this bike has had ZERO issues, runs as well as ANY comparable Commando 750, and should continue to do so for many more years, as long as it is serviced and maintained per the manufacturer's schedule.
Click to expand...


The reason many insist it takes $10,000 to do a restoration is that’s what they spent for the restoration. What you did for $3,500 is by no means a restoration.
 
Last edited:
JimC said:
What you did for $3,500 is by no means a restoration.
Click to expand...
That's a bit excessive. I already mentioned the few obvious non-originalities. Short of that, it definitely fits the definition of restoration, although NOT 'concourse' or '100-point' restoration, obviously (nor did I refer to it as such).

Bottom line, it is rather what the average person MIGHT consider a very satisfactory "restoration" of a very rough Commando donor bike with much less to start with than the original poster of this thread.

If you've got further problems with that, I think you might consider your own opinion being at least PART of the problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: baz
Seems pretty petty and pointless.

"It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is." Bill Clinton
 
grandpaul said:
That's a bit excessive. I already mentioned the few obvious non-originalities. Short of that, it definitely fits the definition of restoration, although NOT 'concourse' or '100-point' restoration, obviously (nor did I refer to it as such).

Bottom line, it is rather what the average person MIGHT consider a very satisfactory "restoration" of a very rough Commando donor bike with much less to start with than the original poster of this thread.

If you've got further problems with that, I think you might consider your own opinion being at least PART of the problem.
Click to expand...

I have no problem. You seem to be prone to exaggerating. And not just with this particular post. If that’s excessive, so be it.
 
JimC said:
I have no problem. You seem to be prone to exaggerating. And not just with this particular post. If that’s excessive, so be it.
Click to expand...
I've got every bike project I've done since 2005 digitally documented to the penny.

There isn't one penny's worth of exaggeration in the chopper rescue I mentioned above.

Sorry this thread has gone south, folks.
 
For christ’s sake, about all you have from that donor bike is a butchered frame, a questionable engine and transmission. And you want us to believe you gathered up all the parts, freshened up the engine and tranny, repaired the frame for $3,250? Forgot painting and decals.
 
Last edited:
JimC said:
For christ’s sake, about all you have from that donor bike is a butchered frame, a questionable engine and transmission. And you want us to believe you gathered up all the parts, freshened up the engine and tranny, repaired the frame for $3,500? Forgot painting and decals.
Click to expand...

Yep.

Anyone who shows up at my shop here in Laredo, Texas is always welcomed to a tour of the place, and I'll show you the record on the at bike, taken from any of 11 years of backups either on my remote drive or on my DVD backups, you can pick (If I remember right, that job was done in '07, but I have backups to '05).

I wonder why some people just have problems with stuff like this? I apologize for having to contribute to this thread creep.
 
Some people prefer dependability on a daily basis over 'concourse' or '100-point' restoration. To each their own. I love this country, we can do that here.
 
You won’t get a 100 point resto for $10,000 unless you started out with a complete, unaltered, mechanically sound bike to start with. Not even in Laredo, Texas.
 
Last edited:
Wasn't this about someone who wanted to know what the value is for a motorcycle he came across as is?
 
JimC said:
You won’t get a 100 point resto for $10,000 unless you started out with a complete, unaltered, mechanically sound bike to start with.
Click to expand...
...and I never claimed you could or couldn't.

...further, I never challenged YOUR assertion either way. (although, personally, I KNOW I can do it for less, using all high quality parts, and Bret Budgor to do the paint).

Let's please let this guy get on with his thread.

You are more than welcome to say whatever you want on THIS OTHER ONE
 
rvich said:
So assume it is the original frame and run the engine number. If it comes back clean, buy a frame tag, put the engine number on it and move on. There is only so much you can do.
Click to expand...
This is the logical path..imho
 
Marvelous Indeeed .

Not likely anyone'd exactly replicate THAT in a hurry , either way .

And a rusted out , dinged , patched old piece of what would have once been junk ,
beaten out and bogged , with a ' Twice as Good ' o_O paint job , aint gunnabe worth twice as much ,
or even half of that ( there ) .
Despite paying twice as much , and having it in the first place .

More senseable a spray can job ,

Though in the case of the interstate here , a non acidic ' Hot Tank ing and it might justify a bit of paint,
but It'd be no better for it , other than visually .

What IS a worry is rotted out junk restored ' as new ' though this is mainly pre war stuff -
where it is STRUCTURALLY IMPAIRED and might break someones neck .
like the rotted girder forks on a old dunger in one of the magazines .
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
New to me 75' Norton Commando
Replies
8
Views
849
norbsa48503
N
Back
Top